When should we arrive?

Last year police cleared the square at 9pm and reopened it at 10pm until it reached 15,000 people, with DJs from 10:45pm. Aim to be at a Sol entrance close to 10pm.

What should we bring?

Twelve gummy candies per person (grapes on the 31st) and warm layers. You will be standing in the cold for about two hours.

Can we watch from home instead?

Yes. Both nights are on live TV, and last year RTVE broadcast the Preuvas for the first time, so kids can practice the chimes on the sofa.

Christmas with Kids in Madrid 2026, 15 of 20

UpcomingFestival

Preuvas at Puerta del Sol: New Year's Rehearsal with Gummy Candies

Name: Preuvas at Puerta del Sol: New Year's Rehearsal with Gummy Candies
Start: 2026-12-30
End: 2026-12-31T23:59:59
Location: Puerta del Sol

When: Wed-Thu Dec 30-31
Ages: All ages
Price: Free

Preuvas at Puerta del Sol: New Year's Rehearsal with Gummy Candies photo 1

Preuvas at Puerta del Sol: New Year's Rehearsal with Gummy Candies photo 2

Preuvas at Puerta del Sol: New Year's Rehearsal with Gummy Candies photo 3

FestivalCentro

Where

Centro, Puerta del Sol

Ages

All ages

Setting

Outdoors

Plan for

About 2 hours, ending just after midnight

Dec 30 Preuvas

Midnight rehearsal with gummy candies

Capacity

15,000 people last year, entry from 10pm

What you need to know

It happens at midnight, not midday: the Preuvas is a full run of the 12 chimes on the night of Dec 30
The square is cleared first: last year police emptied Sol at 9pm and let people back in from 10pm, up to 15,000
Gummies, not grapes, so kids can keep up with the chimes without a mouthful of fruit

About

Spain rings in the New Year by eating 12 grapes, one per chime of the clock on the Real Casa de Correos. The night before, thousands rehearse under the same clock with 12 gummy candies instead: the Preuvas. It is the kid-friendlier of the two nights, with sweets instead of grapes, but it is still a packed square at midnight. Best for older kids who can stay up.

Free

Wed, Dec 30

11:59 PM

Thu, Dec 31

11:59 PM

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Where it is

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol, 28013 Madrid

Getting there

Metro: Sol (1 min walk), Callao (5 min walk), Ópera (7 min walk)
Bus: Benavente (3 min walk), Sevilla (4 min walk)

Nearby playgrounds

Resources

esMadrid listing
Madrid's tourism board page for New Year's Eve and the Preuvas at Sol.

Common questions

More this weekend

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